incubating substrate

I was wondering what kind of substrates you use. I've been looking into hatch rite but I'm not sure if its as good as they say or if its just marginally better than vermiculite

FWIW...I do the substrateless method. So my substrate is basically water and plastic grating :D . So far it works perfect for me and there is ZERO guess work on getting the right amount of water to whatever mix ratio.

I did the substrateless and used a mixture of vermiculite and perlite underneath the grate. I'll probably just use perlite this season as it's easier for me to get.

I also go with the no sub method. 100% hatch rate last season.

This coming season will be my twelfth year using vermic for ball python eggs ... I should go through over 160 lbs of the stuff in the spring ... I've tried everything from perlite, to sand, to substratless over the years and have had equal success with all of them ... vermiculite is just the easiest and most convenient for me.

Hope this helps.

-adam

Last year I used a mixture of verm and perlite. I like the bigger vermiculite pieces with the normal perlite; I don't like the smaller finer verm. I plan on doing the same this year; had 100% hatch rate using this mixture, 12/12. Pic of one clutch; sorry for the gruesome blood, I hit a vein.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...ijiijiji-1.jpg

I'm a vermiculite man too. Sometimes I add perlite. I use this for all my beardie and BP eggs I hand squeeze all my mixtures (great exersize) to make sure there isn't too much moisture. I find that sometimes it comes real dry and sometimes moist so I don't go by formulas.

Great thread....

I use a mixture of vermiculite and perlite. In the past I've used all Vermiculite, all perlite, Sphagnum moss, Coconut coir, and even potting soil. They all worked just fine for keeping the humidity level where it was supposed to be which is the purpose of the incubation medium in the first place. The mixture of the vermic and perlite to me seemed easier in the long run because I didn't have to babysit it as much and constantly check on the moisture levels and add more water if it seemed to be drying out. It just seems to hold moisture for a longer period of time.

I used vermic this year and got a 100% hatch rate...

It's not hard to mix...being able to see a properly mixed batch in front of you helps a lot. A lot of people make it WAY too wet...it should almost feel like "did I really add any water?" In other words, dry to the touch.

That, and I feel like eggs were meant to sit in something - all the success of people using the no substrate method obviously contradicts that - but it makes me "feel better" knowing that they are sitting in something.